Lafayette Avenue Bridge

I want to start with one, but I don't want it to be the whole show, and it could be.

You have been working on the bridge issue in Bay City, trying to find relief for Bay City residents and also make sure funding is there for the Lafayette Bridge.

I want to start with the Lafayette Bridge because wasn't funding in place in the first place for them to build the bridge?

So you're correct.

The Lafayette Bridge was grouped into a big project, a big port project for $640 million.

And there was a lot of little projects that were in there, but there were like a lot of big projects that were lumped in there with like $50 million going to one of our departments.

Michigan engine defense that they didn't need.

You don't put that kind of money away.

It's encouraging to hear him say they are cautious about even contacting and having troubles contacting the bridge partners.

I'm hoping that in 2028, when all the city people that are now using the bridge for nothing, that phases, and the lafayette bridge opening i'm also as my hand fingers crossed that that holds up it has been for a while that would allow the city to discourage anyone from using those two bridges don't use them and put that company in financial straits to where they will sell those bridges or get out of the lease to the city.

I don't know of any other way other than financial pressure that you're going to get out of this contract if it hasn't happened yet.

but for the city to be able to actually discourage the use of those lease bridges and put them in a financial system to deal with.

Maria, good morning.

Good morning, gentlemen.

When the Lafayette Bridge is done, will that be a toll bridge?

No.

So I'm either going to use...

the Lafayette Bridge when it gets rebuilt, or I use Vets Bridge, rarely do I find myself thinking about going over the other two bridges.

Now, I did about a month and a half or two months ago.

I found myself in Bay City.

That seems to be a lot of money.

It is a lot of money to go over that bridge or either of those bridges.

The other thing that's happening that has to be considered, Lafayette Bridge has another year to go in construction before it opens.

The Vets Bridge is taking the load.